What do you call a family-oriented former governor who supported and signed every pro-life bill sent his way, passed the largest tax cut in his state’s history, enacted the most expansive school voucher program in the nation and presided over what was cited as one of the most business-friendly states?

Many Republicans, and much of the media, call this a “moderate.” That is how they are labeling former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman, who officially entered the GOP presidential fray on Tuesday. Whenever Huntsman’s name is mentioned, it is usually accompanied by that most unhelpful of primary season adjectives. But while Huntsman’s temperament is moderate – his record isn’t. Indeed, his policy positions should endear him to most conservatives.

Huntsman has a strong pro-life record, both as a chief executive, signing several innovative pro-life laws as Utah’s governor from 2005 to 2009, and as a private citizen, as a father of seven, two adopted. He also supports gun rights and has an unwavering commitment to Israel.

Huntsman signed the largest tax cut in Utah history. During his tenure, the state was named the nation’s “best managed” by the Pew Center on the States, and cited as one of the top three states in which to do business. Forbes labeled Huntsman’s Utah the most “fiscally fit” state for its combination of low debt and taxes and low unemployment.

When Huntsman left office, he had an 84 percent approval rating among Utah voters. Polls show that he is still well-regarded by his former constituents — which can’t be said for some other former governors in the GOP race.

On the hustings, Huntsman has already voiced support for Rep. Paul Ryan’s budget plan, and has pledged to repeal Obamacare.

Not that Huntsman is a perfect conservative candidate. He does look like a moderate on the environment and immigration, as well as in his support of civil unions for gay couples — though he has opposed gay marriage.

But conservative primary voters must ask themselves whether these positions are less tolerable than the conservative apostasies of the other candidates now called plausible — Mitt Romney and Tim Pawlenty.

More important, Huntsman has far more foreign policy experience than any other Republican candidate. He just left his post as the U.S. ambassador to China, where he served for almost two years. But he’s lived and worked overseas three other times – spending two years, for example, in Taiwan as a missionary. He speaks fluent Mandarin, and one of his daughters was adopted in China.

By all accounts, Huntsman did an exemplary job as ambassador to the Middle Kingdom, earning accolades from former ambassadors, China experts, human rights activists and business leaders. Unlike others in the Obama administration, Huntsman wasn’t afraid to praise Chinese dissidents or criticize the communist government — especially for its abuse of its citizens.

In April Huntsman delivered a speech that included what The New York Times called “some of the sharpest public comments [in Shanghai] yet by a United States official since the Chinese government began to crackdown on dissent this year.”

Huntsman’s pointed rhetoric toward rogue regimes contrasts with his more temperate approach toward his potential political rivals. Huntsman’s reputation as a moderate is probably due, in large part, to his moderate demeanor.

For example, much has been made of a personal letter Huntsman wrote to President Barack Obama, in which he praised his boss as “a remarkable leader” and wrote, “it has been a great honor getting to know you.”

These gracious private remarks contrast with the other GOP presidential hopefuls’ blunt criticisms. He has also had kind words for former President Bill Clinton and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, calling the former’s analysis of world events “brilliant.”

Political analysts have been poking fun at Huntsman because of his cordial relationship with Obama. As a recent Politico article put it, the former Utah governor is “trying out a novel strategy: running for president without criticizing the incumbent by name.”

Huntsman has been critical, however. The president, Huntsman recently told CNN, has “failed on the economic front.” In any case, Huntsman only officially began running for president Tuesday.

Unlike most of his primary opponents, who have spent recent years preparing to run for president or lambasting Obama from the sidelines, Huntsman has been deftly representing U.S. interests and values to its greatest strategic adversary.

Some analysts now assert that conservatives are likely to dismiss Huntsman because he worked for the Obama administration. But he is already addressing this issue.

“The president asked me,” Huntsman told ABC’s George Stephanopoulos on “Good Morning America” last month, “the president of all the people. And during a time of war, during a time of economic difficulty for our country, if I’m asked by my president to serve, I’ll stand up and do it.”

Michael Gerson, a former close adviser to President George W. Bush who is now a columnist for The Washington Post, supported this. “When a president calls with such a request,” Gerson wrote, “the proper, patriotic response is: ‘Yes, sir.’ It’s never a scandal to serve one’s country.”

In fact, Huntsman responded “yes, sir” to two other presidents. He held foreign policy positions in the administrations of Presidents George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush.

Don’t confuse Huntsman’s moderate disposition with moderate policy positions. Huntsman governed as a conservative. Though often expressed in a moderate tone, Huntsman’s vision is one most conservatives can support.

Daniel Allott is a Washington fellow with the National Review Institute.

CORRECTION: The Pew poll referred to was misattributed in the original version of this piece. The data came from the Pew Center on the States, a division of The Pew Charitable Trusts.